The document discusses essential oil production in the state of Chhattisgarh, India. It outlines the major essential oils produced, which are nagarmotha, palmarosa, citronella, lemongrass, and eucalyptus citriodora. It provides details on production quantities, prices, and cultivation practices for each of these oils. The document also briefly lists some minor essential oils produced in Chhattisgarh through wild collection and cultivation. These include frankincense, benzoin, calamus, vetiver, patchouli, and others.

1. Status of Essential Oil Production in
Chhattisgarh: Present & Future
As the consumer is demanding more traceability, community based projects in the country is ready to
revive and re-invent the Indian essential oil Industry. The article gives an overview of the essential oil
production in chhattigarh, a newly formed state in central India at its grassroots and how the
marginalized section of the Indian society is influencing dynamics of production.
Chhattisgarh State, with Raipur as its capital came into existence on 1st November, 2000 by carving
16 districts of Chhattisgarh region from the erstwhile state of Madhya Pradesh. Chhattisgarh is
divided into three distinct agro-cimatic zone viz
a. Northern Hill Zones: 900m
b. Chhattisgarh Plains: 300m
c. Bastar Plateau: 600m
In the north of the state are the mighty Satpura Ranges, in the center the plains with River Mahanadi
and its tributaries and is the south is the plateau of Bastar.
Agri-climatically, the state has immense potential for development of all kinds of Aromatic crops.
Apart from the agro-climatic conditions other factors which make Chhattisgarh a lucrative
destination for setting up an Essential Oil Industry are
• No Sales Tax on Essential oil Sale/Purchase
• One of the cheapest un-skilled Labour in the country
• Land suitable for perennial aromatic grasses
• Hindi Speaking State
• Largely Peace Loving People contrary to the picture portrayed by the Media
Once India’s food production targets were met in 2002, the government launched National
Horticulture Mission. This mission aimed at increasing production of horticulture products. Since
fruit trees had a gestation time of 4-5 years, the aromatics crops became the preferred choice.
Intercropping aromatic crops in fruit orchards thus gained popularity.
Some Industrial houses in the country leverages this opportunity and entered into tri-party
agreement with the State Horticulture Mission more commonly referred to as the buy-back
agreement for purchase of Essential Oils. Some aromatic crops like vetiver and patchouli which
required skilled processing were purchased in biomass form and processed in a centralized
processing unit setup by private companies.
At present extension of aromatic crops is being done under the following government run programs.
• National Horticulture Mission
• National Medicinal Plant Mission
• Wadi Yogna (NABARD) – Only for Tribals
• National Rural Employment Gurantee Act
• National Watershed Mission

2. I. MAJOR OILS
1. NARARMOTHA (cyprus scariosus)
Nagarmotha Oil has been the flagship essential oil of Chhattisgarh and has been distilled from
Nagarmotha roots obtained from the wild. It is an obnoxious weed which can be found growing on
the banks of rivulets which become visible once the water starts receding down after monsoon.
Nagarmotha weeds on banks of rivulets Collection
Cleaning Storage
Nagarmotha is one of the most important NTFP (Non-timber forest Produce) from Chhattsigarh and
is also a major source of cash income for locals. Nagarmotha roots cleaned, dried and stored by
collectors and are sold at weekly markets to traders as and when cash is required.
Production of Roots per Annum…...? 8000 MT
Production of Essential Oil…............? 4 MT
Average Price………………………..? Rs.7800/Kg

3. 2. PALMAROSA (cymbopogon martini)
Nursery Matured Plantation
Harvested Grass Charging
Crop
Palmrosa Citronella Lemongrass E.Citriodora
Attributes
Successful Variety……….? PRC-1 Jal-Pallavi Krishna CIMAP
Duration of Crop.............? 4 Yrs 4 Yrs 4 Yrs 25 Yrs
No of Harvests / Yr ……...? 2 3 3-4 2
Total Acreage Nov-2011…? 570 435 1600 1100
Total Production in 2011..? 26 MT 30 MT 125 MT 60 MT
Average Price/Kg in 2011? Rs.1700 Rs.860/Kg Rs.680/Kg Rs.740/kg

4. 3. CITONELLA (cymbopogon winteranius)
Harvested Field After Hoeing & Fertigation
Infected Plantation Just Planted
Crop
Palmrosa Citronella Lemongrass E.Citriodora
Attributes
Successful Variety……….? PRC-1 Jal-Pallavi Krishna CIMAP
Duration of Crop.............? 4 Yrs 4 Yrs 4 Yrs 25 Yrs
No of Harvests / Yr ……...? 2 3 3-4 2
Total Acreage Nov-2011…? 570 435 1600 1100
Total Production in 2011..? 26 MT 30 MT 125 MT 60 MT
Average Price/Kg in 2011? Rs.1700 Rs.860/Kg Rs.680/Kg Rs.740/kg

5. 4. LEMONGRASS (cymbopogon flexuous)
Slip Preparation before planting Point of Sale
Double Tank units popular in some area Lemongrass As Intercrop with Basil
Crop
Palmrosa Citronella Lemongrass E.Citriodora
Attributes
Successful Variety……….? PRC-1 Jal-Pallavi Krishna CIMAP
Duration of Crop.............? 4 Yrs 4 Yrs 4 Yrs 25 Yrs
No of Harvests / Yr ……...? 2 3 3-4 2
Total Acreage Nov-2011…? 570 435 1600 1100
Total Production in 2011..? 26 MT 30 MT 125 MT 60 MT
Average Price/Kg in 2011? Rs.1700 Rs.860/Kg Rs.680/Kg Rs.740/kg

6. 5. EUCALYPTUS CITRIODORA
Un-harvested 1 Year Old Plantation 2 Months Old Tree
Nursery Citriodora on Forest Land
Crop
Palmrosa Citronella Lemongrass E.Citriodora
Attributes
Successful Variety……….? PRC-1 Jal-Pallavi Krishna CIMAP
Duration of Crop.............? 4 Yrs 4 Yrs 4 Yrs 25 Yrs
No of Harvests / Yr ……...? 2 3 3-4 2
Total Acreage Nov-2011…? 570 435 1600 1100
Total Production in 2011..? 26 MT 30 MT 125 MT 60 MT
Average Price/Kg in 2011? Rs.1700 Rs.860/Kg Rs.680/Kg Rs.740/kg

7. II. MINOR OILS
Wild Collection Cultivated
Frankincense Basil
Benzoin Vetiver
Calamus Jamarosa
Van Tulsa Eucalyptus Globulus
Lac (Aluretic Acid) Patchouli
Frankincense Tree Patchouli as Intercrop with Banana
Vetiver Basil as Intercrop with Jamarosa